Moravians apologize for part in slave trade

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Northern branch of the Moravian Church publicly apologized for its past participation in slavery and vowed to eliminate racism in the church. Representatives of the Protestant denomination approved a resolution June 18 calling slavery “the low point of Moravians in North America.”

The church’s Northern Province, which meets every four years, includes about 28,000 Moravians in 13 states, plus the District of Columbia and parts of Canada. Its Southern Province, with about 20,000 Moravians in five Southern states, approved a similar resolution in April.